Comparison of Simulation Software Tools using Bioethanol Production Process Simulation from Sugar Cane: COCO as a Free Alternative to ChemCAD

Abstract

This research explores the application of Pressure-Swing Distillation to separate the azeotropic mixture of ethanol and water in the context of Brazil's prominent ethanol production industry, where sugar cane is the primary feedstock. The focus of the study is to obtain anhydrous ethanol compliant with Brazilian regulations, which stipulate a purity of 99.3% ethanol. The thesis successfully investigates the simulation of this separation process using both licensed software (ChemCAD) and a free alternative (COCO). The comparison of results encompasses aspects such as efficiency, cost, energy consumption, and adaptability to various scenarios. This work is a valuable contribution to the field of chemical engineering, addressing a crucial aspect of Brazil's ethanol production with practical applications and insightful findings for industrial processes.